Audio playback device and method for controlling operation thereof

ABSTRACT

Provided are an audio reproduction device and a method of controlling an operation thereof, which involve a user interface that allows a user to more effectively control various functions. The audio reproduction device includes a processor configured to obtain function information of the audio reproduction device corresponding to a user input received using mapping information for mapping between a user input received based on at least one of at least one wheel region rotatable clockwise or counterclockwise and at least one touch region and function information of the audio reproduction device, and to control the audio reproduction device according to the obtained function information of the audio reproduction device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a Continuation Application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 16/076,842, filed on Aug. 9, 2018, which is a U.S.National Stage Application, which claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Patent Application No. PCT/KR2016/014120 filed onDec. 2, 2016, which claims the foreign priority benefit under 35 U.S.C.§ 119 of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0018555, filed Feb. 17,2016, the contents of each are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an audio system, and moreparticularly, to an audio reproduction device and a method ofcontrolling an operation thereof, which may reflect a user's taste whenan audio signal is reproduced.

BACKGROUND ART

Recent audio reproduction devices provide various functions such as asound effect function and/or a lighting effect function in order toreflect a user's taste when reproducing an audio signal.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Technical Problem

However, as functions that can be provided by the audio reproductiondevice become more varied, a user interface of the audio reproductiondevice may become complicated. Accordingly, there is a demand for a userinterface that allows a user to more effectively control variousfunctions provided by the audio reproduction device.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, embodiments of thepresent disclosure provide an audio reproduction device and a method ofcontrolling an operation thereof, which involve a user interface thatallows a user to more effectively control various functions.

Advantageous Effects of Disclosure

A user may more effectively control various functions of an audioreproduction device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an audio reproduction deviceaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an example of an external view of an audio reproduction deviceaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an example of mapping information stored in an audioreproduction device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view for explaining an example of changing an operation modeof an audio reproduction device by using a wheel region included in theaudio reproduction device according to an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining, when an audio reproduction deviceaccording to an embodiment is in an audio reproduction mode, functioninformation of the audio reproduction device according to a user inputand light emitted from the audio reproduction device.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining, when an audio reproduction deviceaccording to an embodiment is in a search mode, function information ofthe audio reproduction device according to a user input and lightemitted from the audio reproduction device.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining, when an audio reproduction deviceaccording to an embodiment is in a musical instrument mode, functioninformation of the audio reproduction device according to a user inputand light emitted from the audio reproduction device.

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining, when an audio reproduction deviceaccording to an embodiment is in a disc jockey (DJ) effect mode,function information of the audio reproduction device according to auser input and light emitted from the audio reproduction device.

FIG. 9 is a view for explaining, when an audio reproduction deviceaccording to an embodiment is in a light effect mode, functioninformation of the audio reproduction device according to a user inputand light emitted from the audio reproduction device.

FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram of an audio reproduction deviceaccording to an embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an operation control method executed in anaudio reproduction device according to an embodiment.

BEST MODE

As a technical means for achieving the above-mentioned technicalproblem, the first aspect of the present disclosure may provide an audioreproduction device including a user interface that can be effectivelycontrolled by a user. The audio reproduction device may include a userinterface including at least one wheel region rotatable clockwise orcounterclockwise and at least one touch region; a memory storing mappinginformation for mapping between a user input received based on at leastone of the at least one wheel region and the at least one touch regionand function information of the audio reproduction device; a processorfor obtaining the function information of the audio reproduction devicebased on the mapping information as the user input is received andcontrolling the audio reproduction device according to the obtainedfunction information of the audio reproduction device; and a speakercontrolled by the processor to generate sound.

Furthermore, the audio reproduction device may further include alighting unit capable of adjusting color and/or brightness, and theprocessor may control the lighting unit according to functioninformation of the lighting unit included in the obtained functioninformation of the audio reproduction device.

Furthermore, the lighting unit may include: a first light that fills aunit surface of the speaker; and a second light arranged on a contourportion of the unit surface of the speaker.

Furthermore, the audio reproduction device may further include alighting unit that is controlled by the processor to display theobtained function information of the audio reproduction device byemitting light to the outside of the audio reproduction device.

Furthermore, the audio reproduction device may further include a displaywhich is controlled by the processor to display the obtained functioninformation of the audio reproduction device.

In addition, the touch region may be mounted inside the wheel region.

As a technical means for achieving the above-mentioned technicalproblem, the second aspect of the present disclosure may provide amethod of controlling an operation of an audio reproduction deviceaccording to a user input received through a user interface that can beeffectively controlled by a user. The method of controlling an operationof the audio reproduction device may include receiving a user inputthrough a user interface included in the audio reproduction device,wherein the user interface includes at least one wheel region rotatableclockwise or counterclockwise and at least one touch region; obtainingthe function information of the audio reproduction device correspondingto the received user input from mapping information stored in the audioreproduction device, wherein the mapping information is mappinginformation for mapping between the user input and the functioninformation of the audio reproduction device; and controlling the audioreproduction device according to the obtained function information ofthe audio reproduction device.

Furthermore, the controlling of the audio reproduction device mayinclude controlling at least one of at least one speaker and at leastone lighting unit included in the audio reproduction device.

Furthermore, the function information of the audio reproduction devicemay include at least one of sound effect function information, lighteffect function information, and audio reproduction functioninformation.

Furthermore, the method may further include displaying the obtainedfunction information of the audio reproduction device by emitting lightto the outside of the audio reproduction device using a lighting effectfunction.

Furthermore, the method may further include displaying the obtainedfunction information of the audio reproduction device.

As a technical means for achieving the above-mentioned technicalproblem, the third aspect of the present disclosure may provide acomputer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a programwhich, when executed by a computer, performs the method of the secondaspect.

MODE OF DISCLOSURE

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of whichare illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In this regard, thepresent disclosure may have different forms and should not be construedas being limited to the descriptions set forth herein. In addition,descriptions of well-known functions and constructions will be omittedfor clarity and conciseness, and similar reference numerals are assignedto similar elements throughout the specification.

Throughout the specification, it will be understood that when a unit isreferred to as being “connected” to another element, it may be “directlyconnected” to the other element or “electrically connected” to the otherelement in a state in which intervening elements are present. Inaddition, it will be understood that when a unit is referred to as“comprising” another element, it may not exclude the other element butmay further include the other element unless specifically oppositelyindicated.

Hereinafter, the present disclosure will be described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of an audio reproduction device 100according to an embodiment. In the present disclosure, the audioreproduction device 100 may be referred to as an audio player. Referringto FIG. 1, the audio reproduction device 100 includes a user interface110, a memory 120, a speaker 130, a lighting unit 140, and a processor150.

The user interface 110 may receive a user input. The user interface 110may include at least one wheel region and at least one touch region.

FIG. 2 is an example of an external view of the audio reproductiondevice 100 according to an embodiment. Referring to FIG. 2, the userinterface 110 includes one wheel region 201 and one touch region 202.

The wheel region 201 is rotatable 360 degrees clockwise orcounterclockwise. The wheel region 201 may include at least one ofplastic, metal, aluminum, rubber, and composite materials. However, thematerial constituting the wheel region 201 is not limited to theabove-mentioned materials.

The touch region 202 may receive a touch-based user input. Thetouch-based user input may include, for example, tap, swipe, long tap,right or left circle, but is not limited thereto. For example, thetouch-based user input may be double tap, press, pan, drag, flick, pinchout, pinch in, rotate, multiple finger tap, multiple finger double tap,multiple finger swipe, five-finger pinch out, five-finger pinch in,press and tap, and/or press and drag, but is not limited thereto.

The touch region 202 may include a touch pad based on a decompressiontype, a capacitive type, an infrared type, or an ultrasonic type, butthe type constituting the touch region 202 in the present disclosure isnot limited thereto.

The touch region 202 may include a touch panel including a display. Whenthe touch region 202 includes a touch panel, the audio reproductiondevice 100 may provide feedback information according to a user inputbased on at least one of the wheel region 201 and the touch region 202through the touch region 202.

The feedback information may include, but is not limited to, functioninformation of the audio reproduction device 100 obtained according to auser input, or/and information indicating reception of the user input.

For example, when a user input received according to rotation of thewheel region 201 is an operation mode change of the audio reproductiondevice 100, the feedback information may be information of the changedoperation mode of the audio reproduction device 100. The feedbackinformation may be in the form of, but is not limited to, a text, animage, or/and a symbol. The feedback information may be provided throughthe lighting unit 140. For example, the feedback information may beprovided using a function of emitting light from the audio reproductiondevice 100 to the outside among functions included in the lighting unit140.

The touch region 202 may be mounted inside the wheel region 201. Thetouch region 202 may be mounted to rotate together with the wheel region201 in combination with the wheel region 201 but may be mountedindependently of the wheel region 201 so as not to be influenced by therotation of the wheel region 201.

The user interface 110 may include a plurality of wheel regions 201 anda plurality of touch regions 202, as shown in FIG. 2. When the userinterface 110 includes the plurality of wheel regions 201 and theplurality of touch regions 202, the audio reproduction device 100 mayrecognize a user input that combines a plurality of user inputs receivedtogether through each of the wheel regions and the touch regionsincluded in the user interface 110.

For example, when user inputs are received through one wheel regionincluded in the user interface 110 and a touch region mounted insideanother wheel region included in the user interface 110, respectively,the audio reproduction device 100 may obtain function information of theaudio reproduction device 100 corresponding to a user input thatcombines the plurality of received user inputs.

The user interface 110 may further include a display independent of thewheel region 201 and the touch region 202. The display according to thepresent disclosure may be, for example, but is not limited to, a vacuumfluorescent display (VFC).

The audio reproduction device 100 may display the function informationof the audio reproduction device 100 obtained by receiving the userinput based on at least one of the wheel region 201 and the touch region202 through the display.

The function information of the audio reproduction device 100 mayinclude at least one of sound effect function information, light effectfunction information, and audio reproduction function information.

The sound effect function information includes, for example, but is notlimited to, musical instrument category information, a musicalinstrument name, volume information, play type information (e.g.,repeated play, long sound source play, etc.), disc jockey (DJ) effectcategory information, DJ effect play on/off information, panningnumerical information, and/or DJ effect numerical information, etc.

The lighting effect information may include, for example, but is notlimited to, lighting category information, information about whether toplay an additional lighting effect, and/or gradation lighting effectinformation (e.g., gradient direction information, gradation typeinformation (e.g., tornado)).

The audio reproduction function information may include, for example,but is not limited to, reproduction mode information, play, stop,previous song information, next song information, genre or folder changeinformation, stop, a play mode (e.g., shuffle play), browsing modeinformation, selection or enter information, and folder or parentcategory information.

The user interface 110 may include a button for setting an operationmode of the audio reproduction device 100. The number of buttons may bedetermined according to the number of operating modes of the audioreproduction device 100. For example, when the operation mode of theaudio reproduction device 100 includes an audio reproduction mode, asearch mode, a musical instrument mode, a DJ effect mode, and a lightingeffect mode, the number of buttons for setting the operation modeincluded in the user interface 110 may be five.

When the user interface 110 includes a button capable of setting anoperation mode, the user interface 110 may further include a lampcorresponding to the button so that a user may intuitively know anoperation mode set in the audio reproduction device 100. The lampdescribed above may be configured to emit light as a correspondingoperating mode is set.

The user interface 110 may further include a microphone. The audioreproduction device 100 may output a user audio signal received throughthe microphone through the speaker 130. When the user interface 110includes the microphone, the user interface 110 may further include anon/off control button for a microphone function.

The memory 120 may store mapping information for mapping between userinput received through the user interface 110 and the functioninformation of the audio reproduction device 100. FIG. 3 is an exampleof the mapping information stored in the memory 120.

Referring to FIG. 3, the operation mode of the audio reproduction device100 includes, but is not limited to, a music reproduction mode, a searchmode, a musical instrument mode, a DJ effect mode, and a lighting effectmode.

The above-described operation mode may be changed according to a userinput that rotates the wheel region 201 clockwise R or counterclockwiseL by a predetermined angle or more. FIG. 4 is a view for changing theoperation mode of the audio reproduction device 100 by turning the wheelregion 201 according to an embodiment clockwise R (right) by an angle ofa or more. Changing the operation mode of the audio reproduction device100 in the present disclosure is not limited to that shown in FIG. 4.For example, the operation mode of the audio reproduction device 100 maybe changed by turning the wheel region 201 counterclockwise direction L(left)) by an angle of β or more.

The audio reproduction device 100 may change the operation modeaccording to a preset order. When the operation mode of the audioreproduction device 100 is as shown in FIG. 3, the preset order may be,but is not limited to, an audio reproduction mode, a search mode, amusical instrument mode, a DJ effect mode, and a lighting mode. Thepreset order may be changed according to a user input.

The audio reproduction device 100 may change the operation modeaccording to information about the number of times of rotation of thewheel region 201 by a predetermined angle or more. For this, the audioreproduction device 100 may store mapping information for mappingbetween the information about the number of times of rotation of thewheel region 201 by a predetermined angle or more and operation modeinformation of the audio reproduction device 100 in the memory 120. Theaudio reproduction device 100 may obtain the operation mode informationof the audio reproduction device 100 from the mapping information storedin the memory 120 by using the information about the number of times ofrotation of the wheel region 201 by a predetermined angle or more.

For example, when the information about the number of times of rotationof the wheel region 201 by a predetermined angle or more is 1, the audioreproduction device 100 may obtain the audio reproduction mode from themapping information stored in the memory 120 as the operation modeinformation of the audio reproduction device 100.

For example, when the information about the number of times of rotationof the wheel region 201 by a predetermined angle or more is 2, the audioreproduction device 100 may obtain the search mode from the mappinginformation stored in the memory 120 as the operation mode informationof the audio reproduction device 100.

For example, when the information about the number of times of rotationof the wheel region 201 by a predetermined angle or more is 3, the audioreproduction device 100 may obtain the musical instrument mode from themapping information stored in the memory 120 as the operation modeinformation of the audio reproduction device 100.

For example, when the information about the number of times of rotationof the wheel region 201 by a predetermined angle or more is 4, the audioreproduction device 100 may obtain the DJ effect mode from the mappinginformation stored in the memory 120 as the operation mode informationof the audio reproduction device 100.

For example, when the information about the number of times of rotationof the wheel region 201 by a predetermined angle or more is 5, the audioreproduction device 100 may obtain the lighting effect mode from themapping information stored in the memory 120 as the operation modeinformation of the audio reproduction device 100.

The audio reproduction device 100 may change the operation mode of theaudio reproduction device 100 according to a preset operation modesequence every time the wheel region 201 is rotated by a predeterminedangle or more.

Referring to FIG. 3, when a user input by turning left or right thewheel region 201 is received when the operation mode of the audioreproduction device 100 is the audio reproduction mode, the audioreproduction device 100 may increase or decrease the volume of soundgenerated through the speaker 130.

Referring to FIG. 3, when a user input based on tapping the touch region202 is received when the operation mode of the audio reproduction device100 is the audio reproduction mode, the audio reproduction device 100may reproduce or stop an audio signal.

When the user input based on tapping the touch region 202 is receivedwhen the audio reproduction device 100 is reproducing the audio signal,the audio reproduction device 100 may stop the reproduction of the audiosignal. When the user input based on tapping the touch region 202 isreceived while the audio reproduction device 100 is pausing thereproduction of the audio signal, the audio reproduction device 100 mayreproduce the audio signal.

Referring to FIG. 3, when a user input based on swiping right on thetouch region 202 is received regardless of whether the audio signal isreproduced by the audio reproduction device 100, the audio reproductiondevice 100 may reproduce an audio signal of the previous music (orpreviously reproduced music) of the current music (or song, or audio).

Referring to FIG. 3, when a user input based on swiping left on thetouch region 202 is received regardless of whether the audio signal isreproduced by the audio reproduction device 100, the audio reproductiondevice 100 may reproduce an audio signal of the next music (or music toplay next) of the current music (or song, or audio).

Referring to FIG. 3, when the user input based on swiping up or down onthe touch region 202 is received regardless of whether the audio signalis reproduced by the audio reproduction device 100, the audioreproduction device 100 may change a genre or a folder.

Referring to FIG. 3, when a user input by long tapping the touch region202 is received while the audio reproduction device 100 is reproducingthe audio signal, the audio reproduction device 100 may stop thereproduction of the audio signal.

Referring to FIG. 3, when a user input by edge circling right or left onthe touch region 202 of the audio reproduction device 100 is received,the audio reproduction device 100 may perform shuffle play.

Referring to FIG. 3, when a user input based on turning the wheel region201 right or left is received when the operation mode of the audioreproduction device 100 is the search mode, the audio reproductiondevice 100 may browse reproducible music.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the user input based on tapping the touchregion 20 is received after the reproducible music is browsed byreceiving the user input based on turning the wheel region 201 right orleft when the operation mode of the audio reproduction device 100 is thesearch mode, the audio reproduction device 100 may select a currentlybrowsed music.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the user input based on swiping left on thetouch region 202 is received when the operation mode of the audioreproduction device 100 is the search mode, the audio reproductiondevice 100 may change the searched music to the previously searchedmusic.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the user input based on swiping right on thetouch region 202 is received when the operation mode of the audioreproduction device 100 is the search mode, there is no function to beperformed by the audio reproduction device 100, but the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 3, when a user input by swiping up or down the touchregion 202 is received when the operation mode of the audio reproductiondevice 100 is the search mode, the audio reproduction device 100 maychange a folder or a category.

Referring to FIG. 3, when a user input by long tapping or edge circlingright or left on the touch region 202 is received when the operationmode of the audio reproduction device 100 is the search mode, there isno function to be performed by the audio reproduction device 100, butthe present disclosure is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the user input based on turning the wheelregion 201 right or left is received when the operation mode of theaudio reproduction device 100 is the musical instrument mode, the audioreproduction device 100 may change a musical instrument category orchange the musical instrument.

Referring to FIG. 3, when a user input based on tapping the touch region202 is received when the operation mode of the audio reproduction device100 is the musical instrument mode, the audio reproduction device 100may perform a musical instrument play function.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the user input based on the swiping left orright on the touch region 202 is received when the operation mode of theaudio reproduction device 100 is the musical instrument mode, the audioreproduction device 100 may perform a detailed musical instrumentchanging function.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the user input based on the swiping up or downon the touch region 202 is received when the operation mode of the audioreproduction device 100 is the musical instrument mode, the audioreproduction device 100 may perform a function of changing a volumenumerical value of each musical instrument.

Referring to FIG. 3, when a user input based on the long tapping thetouch region 202 is received when the operation mode of the audioreproduction device 100 is the musical instrument mode, the audioreproduction device 100 may perform a long version (automatic play) ofmusical instrument playing.

Referring to FIG. 3, when a user input based on edge circling left orright the touch region 202 is received when the operation mode of theaudio reproduction device 100 is the musical instrument mode, the audioreproduction device 100 may perform an automatic musical instrument playfunction.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the user input based on turning the wheelregion 201 right or left is received when the operation mode of theaudio reproduction device 100 is the DJ effect mode, the audioreproduction device 100 may change the DJ effect category.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the user input based on tapping the touchregion 202 is received when the operation mode of the audio reproductiondevice 100 is the DJ effect mode, the audio reproduction device 100 mayperform a DJ effect playing on or off function.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the user input based on the swiping left orright on the touch region 202 is received when the operation mode of theaudio reproduction device 100 is the DJ effect mode, the audioreproduction device 100 may perform a panning numerical value changingfunction. For example, when the user input based on swiping left on thetouch region 202 is received, the audio reproduction device 100 maychange a minimum value of the panning numerical value. When the userinput based on swiping right on the touch region 202 is received, theaudio reproduction device 100 may change a maximum value of the panningnumerical value.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the user input based on turning the wheelregion 201 right or left is received when the operation mode of theaudio reproduction device 100 is the lighting effect mode, the audioreproduction device 100 may change the lighting effect category.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the user input based on tapping the touchregion 202 is received when the operation mode of the audio reproductiondevice 100 is the lighting effect mode, the audio reproduction device100 may provide an additional lighting effect.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the user input based on swiping right or leftthe touch region 202 is received when the operation mode of the audioreproduction device 100 is the lighting effect mode, the audioreproduction device 100 may provide a gradation lighting effect. Forexample, when a user input based on swiping right is received, the audioreproduction device 100 may provide a gradation lighting effect in theright direction.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the user input based on swiping up or down thetouch region 202 is received when the operation mode of the audioreproduction device 100 is the lighting effect mode, the audioreproduction device 100 may provide a gradation lighting effect in anupward direction or a downward direction.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the user input by long tapping the touchregion 202 is received when the operation mode of the audio reproductiondevice 100 is the lighting effect mode, the audio reproduction device100 may be in an automatic mix lighting mode.

Referring to FIG. 3, when the user input based on edge circling right orleft on the touch region 202 is received when the operation mode of theaudio reproduction device 100 is the lighting effect mode, the audioreproduction device 100 may provide a gradation lighting effect in theform of a tornado.

The memory 120 may store programs for processing and controlling theaudio reproduction device 100. The program stored in the memory 120 mayinclude an operating system (OS) program and various applicationprograms. The various application programs may include, but are notlimited to, applications (e.g., a DJ effect application, a lightingeffect application, an audio reproduction application, or an audioreproduction application with a DJ effect and a lighting effectfunction) capable of controlling an operation of the audio reproductiondevice 100 based on mapping information for mapping between the functioninformation of the audio reproduction device 100 and a user inputreceived through the user interface 110.

The memory 120 may store information managed by an application program.For example, the memory 120 may store mapping information as shown inFIG. 3. The memory 120 may include preset rotation angle informationabout the wheel region 201 used when changing the operation mode of theaudio reproduction device 100 and mapping information for mappingbetween the information about the number of times of rotation by arotation angle or more and the operation mode information of the audioreproduction device 100.

The memory 120 may store information of an additional lighting effectand lighting information of the operation mode of the audio reproductiondevice 100. The information of the additional lighting effect refers toinformation that can control the lighting unit 140 so as to provide alighting effect that emits light in an impromptu manner according to theuser input received through the user interface 110.

For example, when the current operation mode of the audio reproductiondevice 100 is an audio reproduction mode, the illumination informationof the operation mode of the audio reproduction device 100 refers toinformation capable of controlling the lighting unit 140 so that asymbol

indicating the audio reproduction mode may be emitted and displayed.

The memory 120 may include, but is not limited to, at least one type ofstorage medium from among memory of a flash memory type, a hard disktype, a multimedia card micro type or a card type (for example, SD or XDmemory), random access memory (RAM), static random access memory (staticRAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmableread-only memory (EEPROM), programmable ROM (PROM), magnetic memory, amagnetic disk, or an optical disk.

The speaker 130 may be controlled by the processor 150 to generatesound. The speaker 130 may include, but is not limited to, a pluralityof speakers 203, 204, and 205 as shown in FIG. 2 to generate a sound ofa high-frequency band and a sound of a low-frequency band, respectively.

The lighting unit 140 may be controlled by the processor 150 to emitlight. Color and/or brightness of the emitted light may be controlled bythe processor 150. The lighting unit 140 may be composed of, but is notlimited to, a smart light emitting diode (LED). The processor 150 mayadjust the color and/or brightness of the light emitted from thelighting unit 140 according to the sound generated from the speaker 130.

The lighting unit 140 may include a light that fills a unit surface ofthe speaker 130, and a light that is arranged in a line form on acontour portion of the unit surface of the speaker 130. Lightings 206,207, and 208 shown in FIG. 2 are lightings that are arranged in a lineform on the contour portion of the unit surface of the speakers 203,204, and 205.

The lighting unit 140 may include a light that is at the bottom of theaudio reproduction device 100 and emits light corresponding to thefunction information of the audio reproduction device 100 to the outsideof the audio reproduction device 100. The light that is at the bottom ofthe audio reproduction device 100 and emits light corresponding to thefunction information of the audio reproduction device 100 may emit lightaccording to the lighting information of the above-described operationmode. An installation position of the light emitting light according tothe lighting information of the operation mode of the audio reproductiondevice 100 is not limited thereto. For example, the lighting emittinglight according to the lighting information of the operation mode of theaudio reproduction device 100 may be on a side surface or an upper endof the audio reproduction device 100.

The processor 150 may be configured as a controller or hardware thatcontrols the entire function of the audio reproduction device 100according to a user input received through the user interface 110. Theprocessor 150 may control the operation of the audio reproduction device100 based on an operating system stored in the memory 120. The processor150 may control the speaker 130 and the lighting unit 140 based on theoperating system stored in the memory 120.

The processor 150 may obtain the function information of the audioreproduction device 100 corresponding to a user input received from theuser interface 110 from the mapping information stored in the memory 120and may control at least one of the speaker 130, the lighting unit 140,and the user interface 110 using the obtained function information ofthe audio reproduction device 100.

The processor 150 may control the operation of the audio reproductiondevice 100 based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 11 described laterbelow.

FIG. 5 is a view for explaining, when the operation mode of the audioreproduction device 100 is an audio reproduction mode, functioninformation of the audio reproduction device 100 according to a userinput received based on at least one of the wheel region 201 and thetouch region 202 and light emitted from the audio reproduction device100 through the lighting unit 140.

FIG. 5 corresponds a function of the audio reproduction device 100 basedon the user input received through the wheel region 201 and the touchregion 202 when the audio reproduction device 100 described withreference to FIG. 3 is in an audio reproduction mode. Therefore, thefunction information of the audio reproduction device 100 shown in FIG.5 may correspond to the function information of the audio reproductiondevice 100 described with reference to FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 5, light emitted through the lighting unit 140represents the function information of the audio reproduction device 100based on the user input. When the audio reproduction device 100reproduces an audio signal according to the user input, the audioreproduction device 100 may emit light corresponding to the symbol

indicating audio signal reproduction from the audio reproduction device100 through the lighting unit 140.

When the audio reproduction device 100 pauses the reproduction of theaudio signal according to the user input, the audio reproduction device100 may emit light corresponding to a symbol ∥ indicating a pause of theaudio signal reproduction to the outside of the audio reproductiondevice 100 through the lighting unit 140.

When the audio reproduction device 100 reproduces a previous music or anext music according to the user input, the audio reproduction device100 may emit light corresponding to a symbol indicating the previousmusic or the next music from the audio reproduction device 100 as shownin FIG. 5 through the lighting unit 140.

When the audio reproduction device 100 changes a folder or a categoryaccording to the user input, the audio reproduction device 100 may emitlight corresponding to a folder name or a category name from the audioreproduction device 100 through the lighting unit 140.

When the audio reproduction device 100 ups or downs the volume accordingto the user input, the audio reproduction device 100 may emit lightcorresponding to the current volume information from the audioreproduction device 100 through the lighting unit 140.

When the audio reproduction device 100 performs shuffle play accordingto the user input, the audio reproduction device 100 may emit lightcorresponding to a symbol indicating the shuffle play from the audioreproduction device 100 through the lighting unit 140.

FIG. 6 is a view for explaining, when the operation mode of the audioreproduction device 100 is a search mode, function information of theaudio reproduction device 100 according to a user input received basedon at least one of the wheel region 201 and the touch region 202 andlight emitted through the lighting unit 140.

Referring to FIG. 6, when the operation mode of the audio reproductiondevice 100 is changed to the search mode as the wheel region 201 isturned mostly right as described with reference to FIG. 4 when theoperation mode of the audio reproduction device 100 is the audioreproduction mode, the audio reproduction device 100 may emit lightcorresponding to information (Search) indicating the search mode fromthe audio reproduction device 100 through the lighting unit 140.

After the operation mode of the audio reproduction device 100 is changedto the search mode, when a user input based on turning the wheel region201 right or left is received as described in FIG. 3, the audioreproduction device 100 may emit light corresponding to list informationhighlighting information to be browsed to the outside through thelighting unit 140.

As shown in FIG. 6, the light emitted from the audio reproduction device100 according to a user input based on tapping the touch region 202 anda user input based on turning wheel (an operation for turning right orleft the wheel region 201) may correspond to a folder name or a categoryname.

Referring to FIG. 6, when the function information of the audioreproduction device 100 is to reproduce a selected song, after a song tobe reproduced is selected based on tapping the touch region 202, thetouch region 202 is tapped again.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining, when the operation mode of the audioreproduction device 100 is a musical instrument mode, functioninformation of the audio reproduction device 100 according to a userinput received based on at least one of the wheel region 201 and thetouch region 202 and light emitted through the lighting unit 140.

Referring to FIG. 7, when the operation mode of the audio reproductiondevice 100 is an audio signal reproduction mode, the operation mode ofthe audio reproduction device 100 may be changed to the musicalinstrument mode by turning the wheel region 201 twice largely asdescribed in FIG. 4.

After the operation mode of the audio reproduction device 100 is changedto the musical instrument mode, as described in FIG. 3, a function ofthe audio reproduction device 100 is set as shown in FIG. 7 as the userinput based on the wheel region 201 and/or the touch region 202 isreceived, and the audio reproduction device 100 may emit lightindicating a function set through the lighting unit 140 from the audioreproduction device 100.

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining, when the operation mode of the audioreproduction device 100 is the DJ effect mode, function information ofthe audio reproduction device 100 according to a user input receivedbased on at least one of the wheel region 201 and the touch region 202and light emitted through the lighting unit 140.

Referring to FIG. 8, when the operation mode of the audio reproductiondevice 100 is the audio signal reproduction mode, the operation mode ofthe audio reproduction device 100 may be changed to the DJ effect modeby turning the wheel region 201 three times largely as described in FIG.4.

After the operation mode of the audio reproduction device 100 is changedto the DJ effect mode, as described in FIG. 3, the function of the audioreproduction device 100 is set as shown in FIG. 8 as the user inputbased on the wheel region 201 and/or the touch region 202 is received,and the audio reproduction device 100 may emit light indicating thefunction set through the lighting unit 140 from the audio reproductiondevice 100.

FIG. 9 is a view for explaining, when the operation mode of the audioreproduction device 100 is the light effect mode, function informationof the audio reproduction device 100 according to a user input receivedbased on at least one of the wheel region 201 and the touch region 202and light emitted through the lighting unit 140.

Referring to FIG. 9, when the operation mode of the audio reproductiondevice 100 is the audio signal reproduction mode, the operation mode ofthe audio reproduction device 100 may be changed to the light effectmode by turning the wheel region 201 four times largely as described inFIG. 4.

After the operation mode of the audio reproduction device 100 is changedto the light effect mode, as described in FIG. 3, the function of theaudio reproduction device 100 is set as shown in FIG. 9 as the userinput based on the wheel region 201 and/or the touch region 202 isreceived, and the audio reproduction device 100 may emit lightindicating the function set through the lighting unit 140 from the audioreproduction device 100.

Referring to FIG. 9, the audio reproduction device 100 may emit lightthrough the lighting unit 140 according to a user input based on swipingleft or right on the touch region 202. Referring to FIG. 9, the audioreproduction device 100 may determine a position of light emittedthrough the lighting unit 140 and an area to which the light is emittedaccording to a swiping speed and direction in the touch region 202.

Furthermore, referring to FIG. 9, the audio reproduction device 100 mayemit light through the lighting unit 140 according to a user input basedon edge circling left or light the touch region 202. Referring to FIG.9, the audio reproduction device 100 may determine a position of lightemitted through the lighting unit 140 and an area to which the light isemitted according to an edge circling speed and direction in the touchregion 202.

Referring to FIGS. 5 to 9, the audio reproduction device 100 may includeat least one projector in the lighting unit 140 to emit light from theaudio reproduction device 100 through the lighting unit 140 as describedabove, but components included in the lighting unit 140 of the presentdisclosure are not limited to the above descriptions. For example, thelighting unit 140 may be composed of a smart LED.

In addition, the light emitted through the lighting unit 140 mayrepresent at least one of a symbol type, a text type, and an image type.The memory 120 may store information of the type of light emittedthrough the lighting unit 140. The processor 150 may control thelighting unit 140 based on information about the type of light stored inthe memory 120.

Components of the audio reproduction device 100 according to the presentdisclosure, such as the components shown in FIG. 1, are not essentialcomponents. That is, the audio reproduction device 100 may include moreor less components than those shown in FIG. 1. For example, the audioreproduction device 100 according to the present disclosure may beconfigured as shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a functional block diagram ofan audio reproduction device 100 according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 10, the audio reproduction device 100 may include anaudio reproduction control device 1010, a speaker and lighting device1020, an audio providing device 1030, and a storage device 1040.

The audio reproduction control device 1010 may include a user interface1011, a processor 1012, and a communication unit 1013. The audioreproduction control device 1010 may control the speaker and thelighting device 1020 through the communication unit 1013 according to auser input received through the user interface 1011.

The audio reproduction control device 1010 may reproduce an audio signalreceived from the audio providing device 1030 through the communicationunit 1013. The audio reproduction control device 1010 may readinformation stored in the storage device 1040 through the communicationunit 1013 and write information to the storage device 1040.

The communication unit 1013 may transmit and receive information to andfrom at least one of the speaker and the lighting device 1020, the audioproviding device 1030, and the storage device 1040 in a wireless orwired communication manner.

The communication unit 1013 may include one or more components forallowing communication between the audio reproduction control device1010 and at least one external device. For example, the communicationunit 1013 may include at least one of a short-range wirelesscommunicator, a mobile communicator, and/or a broadcast receiver.However, components included in the communication unit 1013 in thepresent disclosure are not limited to those described above.

The short-range wireless communicator may include a bluetoothcommunication module, a bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication module,a near field communication module, a radio frequency identification(RFID) module, a wireless local area network (WLAN, Wi-Fi) communicationmodule, a Zigbee communication module, an Ant+ communication module, awireless fidelity (Wi-Fi) direct (WFD) communication module, or anultra-wideband (UWB) communication module.

However, communication modules included in the short-range wirelesscommunicator in the present disclosure are not limited to thosedescribed above. For example, the short-range wireless communicator mayinclude an infrared data association ((IrDA) communication module. Theshort-range wireless communicator may use low-power Bluetoothcommunication when receiving a beacon signal.

The mobile communicator transmits and receives wireless signals to andfrom at least one of a base station, an external terminal, and/or aserver on a mobile communication network. Here, the wireless signal maybe a voice call signal, a video call signal, or data in any one ofvarious formats according to transmission and reception of atext/multimedia message.

The broadcast receiver receives a broadcast signal and/or informationabout a broadcast via a broadcast channel from the outside. Thebroadcast channel may include at least one of a satellite channel, aterrestrial channel, and a radio channel, but is not limited thereto.

The audio reproduction control device 1010 may include, but is notlimited to, a mobile terminal or portable terminal such as a smartphone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a wearable device, or adevice based on Internet of Things (IoT).

When the audio reproduction control device 1010 is a smartphone, theaudio reproduction control device 1010 may operate by executing anapplication capable of performing a method according to the presentdisclosure. The above-described application may provide a graphical userinterface (GUI) composed of the wheel region 201 and the touch region202 shown in FIG. 2.

The storage device 1040 may store an audio signal that can be providedfrom the audio providing device 1030. The storage device 1040 may storeinformation stored in the memory 120. For example, the storage device1040 may store mapping information as shown in FIG. 3. The storagedevice 1040 may include, but is not limited to, a mobile terminal suchas a smart phone, a smart television, a desktop personal computer (PC),a PDA, a wearable device, or a device based on IoT.

The audio providing device 1030 may be, but is not limited to, a serverthat provides audio. The audio providing device 1030 may include, but isnot limited to, a mobile terminal such as a smart phone, a smarttelevision, a desktop PC, a PDA, a wearable device, or a device based onIoT.

The user interface 1011 may be configured and operative similar to theuser interface 110 shown in FIG. 1. The processor 1012 may be configuredand operative similar to the processor 150 shown in FIG. 1.

The processor 1012 may update a program that can execute the method ofcontrolling the operation of the audio reproduction device 100 stored inthe storage device 1040. The processor 150 shown in FIG. 1 may alsoupdate a program that can execute the method of controlling theoperation of the audio reproduction device 100 stored in the memory 120.

The processor 1012 may control the operation of the audio reproductioncontrol device 1010 based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 11 describedlater below. The processor 150 may control the operation of the audioreproduction device 100 based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 11described later below.

The speaker and lighting device 1020 may perform operations similar tothe speaker 130 and the lighting unit 140 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an operation control method executed in theaudio reproduction device 100 according to an embodiment. Theabove-described method may be implemented by a computer program. Forexample, the above-described method may be performed by an applicationinstalled in the audio reproduction device 100. The above-describedcomputer program may be operated in an operating system environmentinstalled in the audio reproduction device 100. The audio reproductiondevice 100 may use the computer program by writing and reading thecomputer program to/from a storage medium.

Referring to FIG. 11, in operation S1101, the audio reproduction device100 receives a user input based on the user interface 110. The receiveduser input may include the user input based on the user interface 110 ofFIG. 1.

In operation S1102, the audio reproduction device 100 obtains functioninformation of the audio reproduction device 100 corresponding to a userinput received from mapping information stored in the memory 120. Theaudio reproduction device 100 may obtain the function information of theaudio reproduction device 100 corresponding to the received user inputas described with reference to FIG. 1.

In operation S1103, the audio reproduction device 100 controls anoperation of the audio reproduction device 100 according to the obtainedfunction information of the audio reproduction device 100. The audioreproduction device 100 may control the operation of the audioreproduction device 100 according to the received user input as shown inFIGS. 3 and 5 to 9.

The embodiments of the present disclosure may be written as computerprograms and may be implemented in general-use digital computers thatexecute the programs using a computer readable recording medium. Anon-transitory computer readable medium may be any usable medium thatmay be accessed by a computer, and may include any usable medium, suchas, a volatile and non-volatile medium and a discrete type andnon-discrete type medium. Also, the non-transitory computer readablemedium may include all computer storing media and communication media.The computer storing medium may include any medium, such as, a volatileand non-volatile medium and a discrete type and non-discrete type mediumthat is realized by a method or technique for storing information, suchas, a computer readable command, a data structure, a program module, orother data. The communication medium may include other data of modulatedsignal, such as, a computer readable command, a data structure, aprogram module, or a carrier signal, or other transmission mechanism,and an arbitrary information medium.

The embodiments are examples, and thus, it will be understood by thoseof ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detailsmay be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of thepresent disclosure. Therefore, the embodiments should be considered indescriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. For example,each constituent element that is described as a singular form may beembodied in distribution forms. Also, constituent elements that aredescribed in distribution forms may be embodied in a combined form.

Therefore, the scopes of the embodiments are defined not by the detaileddescription but by the appended claims, and all differences within thescope will be construed as being included in the embodiments.

1. An audio reproduction device comprising: a user interface comprisingat least one wheel device rotatable clockwise or counterclockwise; alighting unit comprising a plurality of lights; a speaker; and aprocessor, wherein the processor is configured to: obtain an audiosignal which is received through a wireless communication interface froman external device, process the audio signal in association with a discjockey (DJ) effect, based on a clockwise or counterclockwise rotationinput received through the at least one wheel device, control thespeaker to output the processed audio signal, and control the lightingunit to adjust at least one of color or brightness of light emitted fromat least one of the plurality of lights of the lighting unit based onthe processed audio signal.
 2. The audio reproduction device of claim 1,wherein the processor processes the audio signal or controls thelighting unit based on function information comprising at least one ofthe DJ effect setting information or lighting effect settinginformation.
 3. The audio reproduction device of claim 1, wherein theplurality of lights of the lighting unit comprise: a first lightconfigured to fill a unit surface of the speaker; and a second lightarranged on a contour portion of the unit surface of the speaker.
 4. Theaudio reproduction device of claim 1, wherein the user interface furthercomprises at least one touch region inside the at least one wheel deviceand configured to receive an input independent of the clockwise orcounterclockwise rotation input enabled through the at least one wheeldevice.
 5. The audio reproduction device of claim 1, wherein theprocessor is further configured to control the lighting unit so that thelight emitted from at least one of the plurality of lights is based onthe DJ effect providing the sound presentation with respect to the audiosignal.
 6. The audio reproduction device of claim 1, wherein theprocessor is further configured to change a lighting effect categorybased on a user input received through the at least one wheel device. 7.The audio reproduction device of claim 1, wherein the processor isfurther configured to select a folder based on a user input receivedthrough the at least one wheel device.
 8. The audio reproduction deviceof claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to select amusic file based on a user input received through the at least one wheeldevice.
 9. The audio reproduction device of claim 8, wherein theprocessor is further configured to receive the user input which ispressing of a button corresponding to a search mode to search for afolder of the music file.
 10. A method of controlling an operation of anaudio reproduction device including at least one wheel device, alighting unit comprising a plurality of lights, and a speaker, themethod comprising: obtaining an audio signal which is received through awireless communication interface from an external device; receiving auser input through at least one wheel device rotatable clockwise orcounterclockwise; process the audio signal in association with a discjockey (DJ) effect, based on a clockwise or counterclockwise rotationinput received through the at least one wheel device, controlling thespeaker to output the processed audio signal, and controlling thelighting unit to adjust at least one of color or brightness of lightemitted from at least one of the plurality of lights of the lightingunit based on the processed audio signal.
 11. The method of claim 10,wherein the audio signal is processed or the lighting unit is controlledbased on function information comprising at least one of the DJ effectsetting information or lighting effect setting information.
 12. Themethod of claim 10, further comprising: controlling the lighting unit sothat the light emitted from the at least one of the plurality of lightsis based on the DJ effect providing the sound presentation with respectto the audio signal.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the at leastone wheel device comprises at least one touch region inside the at leastone wheel device and configured to receive an input independent of theclockwise or counterclockwise rotation input enabled through the atleast one wheel device.
 14. A non-transitory computer-readable recordingmedium having recorded thereon a program which, when executed by acomputer, performs the method of claim
 10. 15. The audio reproductiondevice of claim 1, further comprising: a memory storing information ofan operation mode, wherein the processor processes the audio signal inassociation with the DJ effect or controls the lighting unit based onthe information of the operation mode stored in the memory.
 16. Theaudio reproduction device of claim 1, wherein the processor processesthe audio signal in association with the DJ effect independently fromcontrolling of the lighting unit to adjust the at least one of color orbrightness of light emitted from the at least one of the plurality oflights of the lighting unit.
 17. The method of claim 10, wherein theaudio reproduction device further comprises: a memory storinginformation of an operation mode, wherein the audio signal is processedin association with the DJ effect or the lighting unit is controlledbased on the information of the operation mode stored in the memory. 18.The method of claim 10, wherein the audio signal is processed inassociation with the DJ effect independently from the controlling of thelighting unit to adjust the at least one of color or brightness of lightemitted from the at least one of the plurality of lights of the lightingunit.